Michigan homeowners to get extra help with delinquent property taxes WITH VIDEO

By CHARLES CRUMM

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Struggling homeowners can get some help with their property taxes this year.

Beginning Tuesday, Jan. 15, a program through the Michigan State Housing Development Authority will spend up to $30,000 each to pay a homeowner's delinquent taxes, interest, fees, and condominium association dues.

Statewide, MSHDA has $205 million to spend to help delinquent property taxpayers.

The money is part of a pot of $498 million in federal mortgage foreclosure prevention money the state originally received a couple of years ago, but has now been expanded to assist homeowners with payment of back taxes.

"This is just an extraordinary thing of almost biblical proportions for tens of thousands of families who have fallen behind on their taxes simply because they've fallen on hard times," Oakland County Treasurer Andy Meisner said Wednesday.

If approved, the money will be sent to the county treasurer's office, which will pay off the delinquent taxes.

To qualify, homeowners have to use their homes as their primary residences, demonstrate significant hardship that has caused them to fall behind on their property taxes, and have less than six months of family cash reserves.

Meisner says his office will have housing counselors available to help people with the online-only application.

The treasurer's office retains the right to disapprove assistance, even after MSHDA approves it.

At $205 million statewide, the program could help at least 6,800 people at the maximum amount of $30,000 each.

Just in Oakland County, there were 1,600 property tax foreclosures last year, and more than 18,000 properties in the forfeiture process.

"It's going to be a game-changer for a lot of families who have just gotten in too deep," Meisner said.

Contact Charles Crumm at 248-745-4649, charlie.crumm@oakpress.com or follow him on Twitter @crummc and on Facebook. More information is at oaklandmichiganpolitics.blogspot.com. Keep up with the latest in local news by texting OPNews to 22700. Msg & Data Rates May Apply. Text HELP for help. Text STOP to cancel.